The Grand Canyon Railway, Grand Canyon Village
The 2 engines are a SC-3 class steam locomotive, Locomotive No. 29 was built in 1906 by ALCO in Pittsburgh, weighing 185 tons, and a Diesel loco - Alco FPA-4 #6776: Ex-Canadian National.
The Grand Canyon Railway travels 130 miles round-trip from Williams to the South Rim, with daily departures scheduled from both Williams and the Grand Canyon.
The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway completed the track to Grand Canyon in 1901initially with the pupose of transporting ore however this proved to be unsustainable, but the company could make a return on its investment due to the growth in tourism and the fact there was no decent road network to the heart of the canyon . The $3.95 train ride would replace the $15.00 eight-hour stagecoach ride from Flagstaff, allowing visitors to gaze upon what Teddy Roosevelt said, “Every American should see.” The 65 miles of track the iron horse traveled became the lifeline to Grand Canyon.
The Grand Canyon Railway made its first journey to the Grand Canyon on September 17, 1901.The Grand Canyon itself was designated a National Park in 1919 following its previous deignation in 1908 as a National Monument. This was a boom time for the railway.
The Grand Canyon Railway stopped service to Grand Canyon in 1968 after passenger numbers declined due to the rise in popularity of car travel and the completion of the Interstate highway system. Steam trains had ceased to operate in 1953 following which the line was operated exclusively by Diesels which had initially been introduced in 1940.
The Railway was reopened for passenger service on September 17, 1989, by entrepreneurs Max and Thelma Biegert.
Today, Grand Canyon Railway is a tourist attraction in itself providing a historic and leisure orientated journey to the canyon. The train whose fate seemed sealed when it was shut down due to the popularity of the car, is now responsible for keeping approximately 50,000 cars outside of the National Park.
The Grand Canyon Railway, Grand Canyon Village
The 2 engines are a SC-3 class steam locomotive, Locomotive No. 29 was built in 1906 by ALCO in Pittsburgh, weighing 185 tons, and a Diesel loco - Alco FPA-4 #6776: Ex-Canadian National.
The Grand Canyon Railway travels 130 miles round-trip from Williams to the South Rim, with daily departures scheduled from both Williams and the Grand Canyon.
The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway completed the track to Grand Canyon in 1901initially with the pupose of transporting ore however this proved to be unsustainable, but the company could make a return on its investment due to the growth in tourism and the fact there was no decent road network to the heart of the canyon . The $3.95 train ride would replace the $15.00 eight-hour stagecoach ride from Flagstaff, allowing visitors to gaze upon what Teddy Roosevelt said, “Every American should see.” The 65 miles of track the iron horse traveled became the lifeline to Grand Canyon.
The Grand Canyon Railway made its first journey to the Grand Canyon on September 17, 1901.The Grand Canyon itself was designated a National Park in 1919 following its previous deignation in 1908 as a National Monument. This was a boom time for the railway.
The Grand Canyon Railway stopped service to Grand Canyon in 1968 after passenger numbers declined due to the rise in popularity of car travel and the completion of the Interstate highway system. Steam trains had ceased to operate in 1953 following which the line was operated exclusively by Diesels which had initially been introduced in 1940.
The Railway was reopened for passenger service on September 17, 1989, by entrepreneurs Max and Thelma Biegert.
Today, Grand Canyon Railway is a tourist attraction in itself providing a historic and leisure orientated journey to the canyon. The train whose fate seemed sealed when it was shut down due to the popularity of the car, is now responsible for keeping approximately 50,000 cars outside of the National Park.